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Invertopia isn't just a festival; it's a completely immersive weekend journey into the microcosmos. Step into an environment where the smallest things receive the biggest focus. We know that insects and invertebrates are the foundation of all ecosystems and we want to celebrate that by sharing our passion with you.
Join dozens of like-minded families as we explore the world of insects and invertebrates through walks, talks, workshops, hands-on activities, and engaging entertainment. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that you won't regret attending.
With many of Ireland's top insect and invertebrate experts on-hand, no question will go unanswered by our amazing team of scientists, entomologists and invertebrate enthusiasts.
As many activities start early or finish late, we have camping on site and would love if you could join us for the entire weekend.
This festival will be a zero waste festival. Our budgeting (and ticket prices) assumes that you bring your waste home with you. We can provide you with trash bags.
This festival will be alcohol-free. We're not trying to wreck your buzz, but there are so many activities planned from dawn to dusk, with the kids as the main focus, we just think it makes sense.
Things may change. We are so far away from the festival that exact details (guests, timings, etc) may change as we move forward but the remit will remain the same. Provide a weekend of family-focused events, celebrating Ireland's insects and invertebrates.
Bring insect repellent! This is no joke. June and July are peak horselfy season an they will more than likely be present during the festival. Horsefly bites are no fun.
This festival will take place subject to appropriate insurance being acquired. There are lots of moving parts, and we want to ensure that you are safe and covered for any eventuality. Risk assessments and event management plans are being actively worked on and will feed into the insurance application.
Arachnid & Amphibian Expert
Creative Entomologist
Entomologist (NBDC)
Artist (Danu Ceramics)
Biodiversity Arts
Trinity College Dublin
Special Guest
Campsite settling in and initial exploration of the festival area.
We all have to start somewhere, and this is where we will officially kick off Ireland's first-ever festival dedicated to insects and invertebrates. I wonder if we might have any special guests turn up on the day...
Join Collie Ennis, Biodiversity Officer for Trinity College Dublin and host of the Critter Shed Podcast, as he talks to a number of special guests from the world of insects and invertebrates.
Just 3 minutes after sunset on one of the longest days of the year, we will walk the length and breadth of the estate, learning about all the insects, invertebrates and other creatures who make the night their home. Join Brian Murray and Collie Ennis as they take you on this guided tour of the festival grounds.
Join us as we open the moth traps that were set overnight. If the weather was agreeable, there is a lot of potential to have anything from dozens to hundreds of moths to show off and learn about.
If any of the kids need a break, we have a wonderful group of volunteer artists who will spend the day in the drop-in area, working with you and your kids to create something very special that you can take home with you. We will also host some pre-booked, limited capacity workshops at designated times - more on this later.
Here, Owen Beckett of the National Biodiversity Data Centre will take families through the reasons why it is so important to record everything you see, and share some tips and tricks on how to be the best Biological Recorder you can be!
In this extended workshop we will teach the attendees how to build different types of bee hotels (and hopefully create one to take home), how to build a hoverfly lagoon, how to build a butterfly winter refuge, how to make a small pond, and more...
Beginning with a quick introduction to some of our most common invertebrates, families will then divide up with BioBlitz leaders and travel the estate looking to catch and record as many invertebrate species as possible within the 3-hour time frame. All of this will be overseen by the National Biodiversity Data Centre's Insect Officer, Owen Beckett and a panel of very knowledgable experts.
After some post-Bioblitz downtime, we invite all families to join us for a table quiz to test your knowledge of all things insect and invertebrate in a fun environment!
Moths and other insects are often the base of the food pyramid for many other creatures. One such creature is the beautiful flying mammal, the bat. Members of Kildare Bat Group and Bat Conservation Ireland will join us to take us on a night walk, listening to the bats 'singing' as they move around the estate looking for food.
What do you get when Collie and Brian enter the pond with nets in their hands and a willing audience to observe? Who knows? But we can guarantee it will be interesting and lots of fun, if nothing else. From frogs and newts, to diving beetle and their alien-like larvae, we're sure we can hold your interest for this hour!
We will teach you and equip you with all the information and experience you need to be able to confidently record some of the most common woodlice in Ireland. A rare skill, and something you can boast to all your friends about! You can even go home, and Bioblitz your own back garden!
Dr. Aidan O'Hanlon, Curator of Entomology at the National Museum of Ireland, will join us to talk about museums and their insect collections. What are they? Why are they important? And just how many insects does he have in his collection?
We will get some of the best scientists in the country to talk to you about Science Posters and hopefully inspire you to create your own. Then, we'll have them judge the posters looking for an overall winner!
After an amazing weekend, it will be time to pack up and head home, full of new knowledge and fond memories! Remember, we are a zero-waste festival so we do need you to bring your rubbish home with you.
Invertopia will be held on the Baltyboys Estate, near Blessington, County Wicklow, Ireland. This 110 acre estate has a mix of woodland, wetland, and grassland habitats, making it the perfect location for a festival celebrating insects and invertebrates. It is also the home of the microWild biodiversity project.
We will have a parking area on site.
Unfortunately not. Parents or guardians must be with and supervise their children at all times and for all events. The microWild estate is a wild area with many natural hazards (trees, ponds, and ditches). Children are naturally curious and could get into trouble without this required supervision. We will have an area in the centre of the campsite for children and families to mix and play.
There are no age restrictions, but do look at the activities (and their durations) and determine if they are suitable for your child(ren).
Bring your camping gear, weather-appropriate clothing (it's Ireland, prepare for anything!), a reusable water bottle, and an open mind. Please avoid glass bottles and single-use plastics. Appropriate footwear is a must. The ground will be uneven in places and may be slippy.
We will have a few food vans on site for the weekend (more info to follow). If you have specific dietary requirements, it may be better for you to bring your own food with you, just in case they can't be catered for
You may bring your own food but no alcohol. The festival is family-focused with kids as the main focus and with events running from early morning until late at night, we just don't think alcohol makes sense for this festival.